Harrison, who joined the Foundation in January 2000, has taught more than 100 college courses in American, European and world history.He is specialized in U.S. 20th century political and social topics.He has published a book on the Philadelphia Soviet Jewry movement titled "Passover Revisited" and has co-authored an introduction for a book on Philadelphia Jewish life.

Harrison received a Ph.D. in history from Temple University and a B.A. in history from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he graduated magna cum laude and was admitted into the university's Phi Beta Kappa chapter.